The answer: The well-known position in the madhhab is that they are not included.

The second view is that whoever is like them, or worse than them, the imam should not offer the funeral prayer over him. This is because when the Sacred Law prescribes a punishment for a particular sinful offense, whatever is comparable to it or more serious than it is included under the same ruling.

If the Prophet, may Allah’s peace and blessings be upon him, did not offer the funeral prayer over one who misappropriated this small amount of booty, then what of one who lies in wait for Muslims on the roads, killing them, taking their property, and terrorizing them? Is he not more deserving of being made an example of?

The answer: Certainly. Therefore, the correct view is that, when an offense is equal to either of these two sins and the imam considers it in the public interest not to offer the funeral prayer over its perpetrator, he should not offer it.

Issue: How is the Prophet’s statement regarding one who kills himself to be understood: “abiding therein eternally, forever”? (1)

The answer: This hadith resembles, in some respects, the verse:

“And whoever kills a believer deliberately, his recompense is Hell, abiding therein eternally; Allah is angry with him, curses him, and has prepared for him a tremendous punishment.” [al-Nisa’]

The scholars have given many answers to this, among them:

That it applies to one who deems killing lawful. When this answer was presented to Imam Ahmad, he laughed and said: “Glory be to Allah! If he deems killing lawful, then he is a disbeliever whether he kills or does not kill.”

Others said that it is conditional; that is, this is his recompense if Allah recompenses him in this manner.